Under the present invention, a computer work gradient matrix is built for each computer system that is interconnected in an environment. For each computer system for which resource consumption is desired to be predicted (e.g., “target” computer systems), a transition work cocycle is generated and provided to a master computer system. A set of task work paths will be constructed for the master computer system. Thereafter, an initial resource consumption value can be computed on the master computer system based on the computer work gradient matrix and the set of task work paths for the master computer system as well as a current background loading level that is being experienced by the target computer system. Then, using the initial resource consumption and the transition work cocycle for the target computer system(s), a resource consumption of the target computer system(s) can be predicted on the master computer system.